Tuition fees

Everything you need to know about the ways to pay your tuition fees as part of your online enrolment.

In order to complete online enrolment, you don't have to pay your fees in full. If you are paying your fees directly and are not receiving funding from either Student Finance or another Sponsor, you can make payment in three instalments. You can set these up as part of your online enrolment.

To find out more, please login to the SIMS online enrolment system (when informed to do so) and you will be given instructions on how to pay.

Fees are payable for each year of your course (including repeat years). For an approximate total cost, fees should be multiplied by the number of years of study. Please note that fees for future years may be subject to increase.

Tuition Fee Loans from Student Finance

If you will be paying your tuition fees through a Tuition Fee Loan, you will receive a notification of entitlement letter from your student finance body. Please make sure that your University course details and tuition fee amount on this letter are correct.

If any information on your entitlement letter is incorrect then the easiest way to update your details is by logging into your online account before 1 September and choosing "Change your application". It should then take Student Finance up to around 20 working days to process the change.

After 1 September, you won't be able to change the details yourself. Instead, please contact the Advice and Money Team for help with this.

If you are coming to Cardiff University through Clearing, funding for clearing students provides more information about this process and how to manage possible delays in funding.

Incorrect tuition fees

If your tuition fees aren't displaying correctly, please still complete online enrolment, but don't make a fee payment. Please then contact us immediately.

Tuition fees enquiries

Methods of payment

Before making payment, please read the Your Funding information for details on potential funding opportunities.

Please note that if your course start date is not September/October, you will not be able to pay by this method.

Direct debit will be offered to all students as a payment method as part of the online registration procedure, when you will complete a direct debit mandate. The mandate will remain active for the duration of the course.

Payment can be made by direct debit in three instalments (as long as the total amount due exceeds £300) on 13 November 2019, 27 January 2020 and 27 April 2020.

Please ensure:

the bank details are from a valid UK bank/building society account which allows direct debits

direct debits must be set up at least a month prior to the first collection date

seven working days' notice is given if you need to cancel your direct debit instruction

you have sufficient funds in your account to cover a direct debit payment when it is presented.

Calendar year students (postgraduates)

Payment can be made in full at the start of their academic year or in three instalments, one third at the start of their academic year, one third after 90 days and the final third after 180 days.

If you want to pay by Direct Debit, but you haven't yet opened a bank account, please still complete online enrolment.

You will then be able to go to SIMS online to set up a direct debit. You will be considered as 'Registered – with outstanding finance issues' until the direct debit has been set up. This allows you access to University facilities such as the library and computers for a 30 day period, during which time you should make the necessary arrangements to complete your enrolment.

International students

Payment can be made using all major credit/debit cards (except American Express) either in full or in three instalments. You will be able to submit your card details as part of your online registration. Once payment of the first instalment has been made, future payments can be made via the SIMS Online page.

If paying in three instalments the payments dates will be:

first instalment – 27 September 2019 - as part of, or prior to, online registration

second instalment – 27 January 2020

third instalment – 27 April 2020.

Online transfer

Visit our StudentPay webpage to pay by bank transfer. Benefit of paying by this method include:

Pay fees online using the currency of your choice

Commission-free - no extra bank charges for 37 currencies

Secure and easy to use via Western Union Business Solutions

Easy way to make a payment through your local bank. Once logged in to StudentPay you will get printed instructions on how to make the transfer through your local bank.

Please note that to finalise your funds transfer to Cardiff University you will need to complete the transfer via internet banking or present the bank details to your local bank within 72 hours.

An email will be sent from Western Union Business Solutions once they receive the payment to confirm receipt of funds.

In some cases, you may have to make a transfer in either Euros or USD if your local currency option is not available. This may incur an international fee, and there could be a higher charge for this transfer.

Direct bank transfer

Payment can also be made by direct bank transfer to the University bank account either in full or in three instalments. So that we can easily identify who the payment is for, please ensure that you quote the following:

your student (or applicant) number

your full name

This process is not available as part of online registration and we must advise that payments be received no later than seven working days prior to registering online.

If you are in receipt of sponsorship for your tuition fees (this does not include family members or friends who may decide to make payments on your behalf) you should:

obtain a letter from your sponsor confirming that they accept responsibility for fee payment

email the letter to onlinequery@cardiff.ac.uk to the Finance Division as soon as you receive it or no later than seven working days prior to your online registration.

An official sponsorship letter must be provided for each year of study. If you are unable to send your sponsorship letter to the University prior to your online enrolment, you will have an opportunity to upload a copy as part of online enrolment. Failure to do so will mean you will not be able to fully complete your online registration.

This does not apply to students who receive funding through Student Finance as this information will be sent to Cardiff University electronically.

If your sponsor fails to pay

In accordance with Cardiff University Financial Procedures, if your sponsor fails to make due payment of the tuition fees, you will become personally responsible for full payment. Please be aware that this will affect your ability to receive an award from the University. It is also your responsibility to ensure that your sponsor is made aware that tuition fees are payable within 30 days of the invoice date. If payment has not been received by this date you will become personally responsible for paying the full tuition fee.

If you're in receipt of part-sponsorship

If a student is in receipt of part-sponsorship, unless the sponsor decrees otherwise, the sponsored part of the fee will be deducted and the student is liable for the balance which is payable in three instalments. Partial funding cannot be used to delay payment of the first instalment.

Your instalment dates and amounts will be shown on your account at SIMS Online.

International students can pay their fees using Cardiff University’s payments platform powered by Western Union Business Solutions. This allows you, your parents and sponsors to pay GBP student fees in the currency of your choice and provides you with a simple and secure way to initiate a payment.

Students coming to Cardiff from the United States may choose to take out loans for all or part of their tuition fees. Full details of how to go about applying for funding can be found on the USA webpage.

The Finance Office is able to arrange letters to assist with the transfer of funds. However, due to the high volume of demand at this time of year, you must allow at least three working days for the letter to be produced. Letters being sent overseas will then be sent standard class mail so you would be advised to request any documents you need as early as possible.

Prompt payment

It is the responsibility of all students to make sure that their tuition fees are paid on time or that sufficient funding (i.e. grants & loans) is in place. Provision must be made either in advance of or as part of online registration.

Failure to pay tuition fees by the due date will result in Senate Regulations being enforced and may lead to your registration being cancelled.